Longtime Norfolk sheriff retires, new sheriff takes over

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NORFOLK, Va. - Longtime Sheriff Bob McCabe left office on Wednesday and a new sheriff has taken over.

McCabe had been sheriff since 1994 and leaves to little fanfare.

Colonel Joseph P. Baron

There was no city ceremony recognizing him for his service. He won't be at Wednesday afternoon's swearing-in event, a sheriff's office spokesperson said. He brought the last of his belongings out of his office on Tuesday, the spokesperson said. He has also been there to help with the transition.

The former mayoral candidate announced his retirement in December for personal reasons. A month earlier, The Virginian Pilot reported developer Ronnie Boone bribed McCabe, but McCabe swore that didn't factor into his retirement, calling the report "unsubstantiated allegations."

McCabe announced he would run for re-election in August, but a spokesperson said the announcement was "premature."

Col. Joseph Baron took the oath of office on Wednesday afternoon. He plans on running for the office during the election in November. A former Norfolk police officer, Baron joined the sheriff's office in 2011. "I'm humbled and appreciative of the opportunity," Baron said.

Baron says he didn't feel any negative effects of McCabe's publicity. "If you're asking how he felt, you'd have to ask him," he said. "All I've seen from Sheriff McCabe is positive things, positive community involvement, and running a good organization."